Veniah t



(No Model.)

v. T.. MBREDITH.

RAILING POR CEMETERY PLATS.

N0. 278,579. Patented May 29,1883.

UNITED i STATES ,PATENT OFFICE.

VENIAH T. MEREDITH, OF HAGERSTOWN,MARYLAND.

RAI LING FOR CEMETERY-PLATS.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentlNo. 278,579, dated May 29, 1883. Application filed September 27, 1882. (No model.)

a citizen of the United States, residing at Hagerstown, in the county of Washington and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coping" or Railing for Cemetery-Plats; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de'- scription ofthe invention, such as will ena-V ble others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the `accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part f this'specication.

rienced in constructing the foundation and superstructure of stone railings for cemeteryplats and other similarly-exposed places,(where the railings were subjected to all the disintegrating inliuences of the we ather,) in `such a manner that the several stones forming the superstructure-thatis, the posts and railsshould keep their places unmoved by rain or frost for a long term of years.

This invention therefore relates to an improved method of constructing such railings,

by which the difficulties above named are believed to be wholly overcome, and at the. same time the cost of construction reduced. In constructing railings of this class it has been common heretofore to make an excavation under the whole line of work, and to place therein a continuous. wall or bed of rubblewoi k or concrete. This was brought up nearly to the surface of the earth, and the cut stones forming the rails and posts bedded thereon throughout their wholelower surface. The rain and moisture during the 'autumn pene-` trates this foundation, and when the freezing weather comesthe stones forming the superstructure are lifted out of place. The only way to avoid this difficulty heretofore known has been to make the stones forming the posts and rails of such great dimensions that they would extend far enough beneath the surface of the earth to avoid the action of frost, and still have sufficient above to form the desired, railing. This was very expensive, as these large stones cost more in proportion than smaller ones, bein gmuch more difficult to handle, as well asrequiring much more laborin their preparation. t

My invention therefore consists in using comparatively small supports extending below the frost, and placing the posts and rails entirely above the surface, with clear spaces below the rails to prevent the action of frost upon them, all as will be hereinafter fully described, andthe special points of novelty stated in the claim. s

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side view of a railing constructed upon my improved plan.` Fig. 2 `is a section of a similar railing placed in the ordinary manner,

t Fig. 3`is a perspective of a cemetery-plat sur- Herctofore great difficulty has been expe-V rounded by my improved railing.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, A shows- It will be seen that the whole superstruct ure is so constructed as to be entirely relieved Vfrom the deleterious iniiuence of frost, while the several parts are of such small dimensions as to be easily handled and reduce their cost t0 a minimum.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

As an improvementin railingsfor cemeter plats and other purposes, the combination, with the blocks O, resting on a rubble foundation below the frost-line and extending above the surface of the ground, of the posts D and the rails E, resting on said blocks, as and for the purpose described.`

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence'of two witnesses.

\ VENIAH T. MEREDITH Witnesses:`

S. MEREDITH,

F. A. MEREDITH. 

